Means providing a vented medical cast



Feb. 11, 1958 Y F. BLANK 2,822,806

' MEANS PROVIDING A VENTED MEDIcAL cAsT Filed June 14. 1955 INVENTOR. FEED/IVANO L/ M/K km@ @W12 Ar rau/EY United States Patent Office MEANS PROVIDING A VEN'I'ED MEDICAL CAST Ferdinand Blank, Mount Clemens, Mich. Application June 14, 1955, Serial No. 515,466 Claims. (Cl. 12S-91) This invention relates to medical casts, and, more particularly, to a method and means for providing a vented medical cast and, this application is a continuat'ion-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 469,526, the tiling date of which is November 17, 1954, now Patent No. 2,731,963.

' In my aforementioned co-pending application, I have pointed out the need for vented medical casts and have provided a vent means which may be mounted in a medical cast to satisfy such need. However, further experiments have shown that it is possible to provide a vented medical cast by practicing the method disclosed hereinafter, and, that such method is an eicient and easy to follow method. Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a method of and means; for providing a vented medical cast which is adapted to be used on any type cast.

It is' another object of this invention to provide a method of making a vented medical cast which com- Y prises the steps'of forming the cast with a plurality of inserts `in Vthe walls thereof, and, then removing the inserts after thecast is formed, whereby, a plurality of 4 apertures will be formed in the cast walls.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a plurality of vent forming means which may be adapted to be used in the method disclosed herein. f

It is another object of this invention to provide a i method of making a vented medical cast which comprises the steps of forming the cast with a plurality of inserts in the walls thereof, removing the cast material covering the inserts, and removing said inserts or merely Vcutting the Ytops thereof olf.

It is another object of this invention to provide a vent means for a medical cast which is provided with a window therein, and, a door in said window.

Other objects, features and advantages of this inven- 1 tion-will be apparent from the following description and f appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein Vlike reference numerals designate corresponding parts of j lrtheseveral views.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional view taken through a portion of a medical cast and showing the steps of forming a vented medical cast in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of part of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, taken along the line 2 2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational, sectional view of a cast provided with a vent means of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the vent means illustrated in Fig. 3, taken along the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a vent means similar to 'that shown in Fig. 3, but which is provided with a snap-on top portion;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of 2,822,806 Patented Feb. 11, 1958 2 the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, taken along the line 6 6 thereof; and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of another vent means provided with a transparent window on the top, and, a door in said window. v

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to Fig. 1, the numeral 10 designatesY a layer of soft cotton which is usually placed on the member which is to be covered by the cast, so as to provide a cushioning means between the skin and the cast. The usual cast is then formed by wrapping a plurality of 'layers of at strips of plaster-of- Paris bandage material, as 12, around the soft cotton 10. In accordance withvthe principles of the present invention, a cast so formed may be provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough, for venting purposes, by carrying out the following described procedure.

The soft cotton 10 would irst be applied to the skin of the member to be cast, and, next, a vent forming device 14 is then mounted on the cotton 10, in any desirable number thereof. The vent forming device 14 is provided on the lower end thereof with -a plurality of outwardly extending feet 16 which help Vto maintain the device in an upright position. These feet 16 may be formed to any length and Width desired, and are preferably very exible so as to permit the removal of the device by an outwardly directed force thereon. The vent forming device 14 is preferably formed from a suitable plastic or lightweight material and is pointed on the upper end thereof. The device 14 may be formed with any desirable cross-sectional shape, although a circular cross-sectional shape is preferable.

As the first layer of bandage material 12 is passed around the cotton 10, the pointed tops of the device 14 will pierce said material and slide down against the feet 16 and hold said feet securely against the cotton 10.

Each succeeding layer of bandage material will also Y position parallel with the body part of the device to permit it to be removed.

It will be obvious, that a cast so formed will be provided with a plurality of vent holes therethrough which will permit the air to contact the skin of the member covered by the cast and provide more comfortable conditions for the person carrying the cast.

'The numeral 18 designates a second type of vent Y forming device which may be used in the aforedescribed method. The device 18 is more conical in shape as compared to themore cylindrical shape of the device 14.

The device 18 is also hollow as indicated by the numeral 20, and is provided with a plurality of feet 22, similar to the feet 16. The device 18 would be used in the same manner as the device 14, but if desired, instead of pulling out the device 18, it may be left in the cast and the top cut olf, as along the line indicated as 21. On the other hand,V if it is desired to remove the device 18, it may be pulled out in the same manner as the device 14. As shown in Fig. l, when the device 18 is pulled out, the feet 22 will flex into a position parallel with the body portion thereof, and, the outer surface of the cast will be slightly pushed up, as indicated by the numeral 24. After the device 18 has been removed, an aperture 26 will have been formed in the cast which will be provided with extensions 28 on the lower end thereof.

Since the cotton 10 is very porous, it is not necessary to place the devices 14 or 18 directly against the skin. The air can easily penetrate the cotton 10. However,

if desired, the devices 14 and 18 may be placed directly on the skin of the member which is to be covered with the cast.

ligure 3; shows -another'modication'rof ytheventy forming device of the invention. The numeral..30..designates a -layer of cottonV in a cast similar to the cotton layer 10, nd, the numeraly 32 designates-the vplurality of layers of bandage material which form the cast proper. The vent vfornlingdevice shown in Fig. 3 is indicated generally by the` numeral `34 andis substantially hernispherically Vshaped' and is hollow `as indicated by the numeral 35.

The device34 is providedv with a plurality of feet 38 which 'are adapted to beengaged by the bandage layers 32 and vaid in'holding the device 34 in place.

It willbeseen,v that as the layers-of bandage material 32 arepassed around themember to be cast, .they will form a hump-lil'over theadevice 34. After the castis completed,' the hump40vmay -be -cut olf, as along the line 42, and theportion so cut off is shown in broken lines in Fig. 3 and is numbered 44. The upper part of i thedevice V34 will also be Ycut of as indicated by the numeralr46, -thus leaving a holein the upper end of the device 34. Any suitable instrument may be inserted into the hole in the device 34 andused to pull thev device 34 outwardly from the aperture it is seated in. The feet 38 will beflexiole and will permit such removal. lf desired, the-devices `34 maybe left in the cast and the hole formed in'the upper ends thereof will permit Acirculation of air. It will be seem-that the vent forming device of- Fig. 3 provides a means for providing vent holes in a cast which is easy to use, and, which does not slow down t-he wrapping of the bandage layers 32, since the. bandages 32 are applied directly'on and over the outer surface of the 4devices-34.

Figs; 5 and 6 disclose another modiiication of the vent forming means of the invention. The numeral 48 shows or 'indicates a vent forming device similar to that of Fig. 3, but which is provided with feet 50 and a removal cover 54. This device 48 is hollow inside, as indicated by the numeral 52. The cover portion 54 is ,provided with an upraisedy part 56 adapted to act and serve asa handle. The cover 54 would be adapted to snap onk the lower part of the-device 48. The lower part of the device 43 is provided with a seating surface 53 which faces upwardly and engages the downwardly facingseating surface 60 on the cover 54. The cover 54 would be in place when the device 48 is used, and

the bandage `material used to formi-the cast would be wrapped aroundthe entire-device in a manner similar U4 which is provided with feet 66. The transparent top 67 is provided with a door 68 which is hingedly mounted on the top 67 by a suitable hinge means as indicated by the numeral 70. The door 68 may be provided with a suitable handle 72.

In use, both the modifications of Figs. 5 and 7 would be covered with bandage. material, as 32, during the cast forming operation, but after the cast is formed,

Athe cast material over the devices. 48 vand. 64. is -removed by any suitable means andthecovers 54 and 68 may be operated to permit ventilation of the"cast,* as desired. If desired, the devices 48 and 64 maybe pulled out of the cast in a manner similar to that used on the device of Fig. 3.

It will be understood, that the vent forming devices illustrated may be made to any size desired, and, are preferably formed from a suitable transparent plastic.

vrThe vent forming devices ofi theinventionimay', however, be formed fromV aisuitable rnbbergfor lightweight metal,

f as desired.

It will. be Afurther understood; that; the venti-.forming devices ofthe yinve'miorl may; be formedlfwithLother cross-sectional shapes than shown. v

While it will" be apparent thatlhe` preferredfembodiments :ofi the inventioniherein idisclosed; are welll'calf. cnlatedrto fuliill 'the objects "above istated, it'-.will. be

,appreciated vthat the invention iszsusceptibletto modification,` variation and change without departingirom-the proper scope or fair'meaning ofthe subjoined claims.

What is. claimed is: o

. l. ln' combinatioma:surgicalcasthavingV a k:wall`n1'emrber; a Ventilating nipple embeddedfinisaid wall member 'andfincluding a body portion; said Vbodyportionhhaving a height greater than theithickness,othecastimwhich .Y it is to bey incorporated; and, said body/.portion Ebeing `provided with a plurality of. Aoutwardlyeviextetiding'.flexible klegs on-thelower end thereof, which legs Yextend perpendicularly to the `longitudinal:axis: of ;.said:. :body lportion. 2. The' nippleas set forth ini-claim l, whereinpsaid body portion ist-hemisphericaldn',:shape landsishollow. 3. The` nippleas set forth in; claim.12"iivherein, said body portion is hemisphericalrinzshape tandcisgprovided Awith an opening on' the upperzxendl thereofhand aldoor for'said opening.

`4..-'l`he nipple as set forth in claimlL'iwhereinffsaid body-portion is rectangular and, hollowfandiopenfon Vthe flower end thereof.

5. The 4nipple as set forth inclaim 4, iwherein, fsaid body portion is provided with; afdoor.V onilthe upper'side thereof, and is open on-the lowered. Y

` References Cited-inthe' le of this. patent UNlTED STATES- PATENTS 2;273,792 1 Brown -..i Feb."`17," 1942 2,367,690 Purdy Ian."23,' 1945 2,443,140 Larson June f 8, "1948 2,523,837 Luger ;-Sept.'A 26,1195() 2,704,067

Moses 'Mar."15,'1955 

